In memoriam: The Hon. James Michael “Jim” Flaherty, PC, MP: 1949 – 2014

This afternoon, while in Convocation considering the accreditation of Trinity Western University’s (TWU) proposed law program, I received the sad and shocking news of the death of The Honourable Jim Flaherty, PC, MP.

Mr. Flaherty was, most notably, the former Federal Finance Minister. He was, of course, also our former Attorney General, as well as an ex-officio bencher of the Law Society.

Born in Lachine, Quebec, in 1949, he grew up in nearby Montreal until attending Princeton on a hockey scholarship. He then went on to study law at Osgoode Hall Law School. After being called to the Ontario Bar in 1975, he practised law for 20 years — founding Flaherty Dow Elliott in the process — before entering politics in 1995.

After being re-elected in 1999, he was named Attorney General, a position he held until being appointed Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier in February 2001.

He is survived by his wife, Ontario MPP Christine Elliott, and three triplet sons. He leaves a legacy as a first-class lawyer, a deft politician, and an exemplary man.